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What the hell is going on in Isiolo/Samburu?

Two days ago, I received an email from a friend of a friend asking if I had any knowledge of what was going on in the Samburu area as far attacks on indigenous Samburu people by government forces. I had vaguely recalled seeing the usual “government chasing cattle rustlers” story in the newspapers over the last few weeks, but confessed that I was essentially clueless.

That email sparked my interest and I started doing a bit of research (on Google and my new handy resource for all and sundry Twitter) hoping I could come with at least a link or two to send the friend of a friend in the right direction. I also reached out to my contacts in the human rights field thinking perhaps that they may have a better sense of what was going on.

Turns out, my cursory research has unearthed more questions than answers. And very disturbing questions at that.

The first stories I came across in the local media, were the typical fighting over resources/pasture/bandits ones.

How six cops can be shot dead by cattle rustlers is a whole other can of worms relating to whether the government is really in charge of North Eastern province and whether it really cares…but I digress.

More recent stories begin to hint at an ethnic element to the fighting talking of organized forced evictions of the Samburu and Turkana from their grazing lands. The local PC appears to be, in not so many words, clueless. [In all fairness, if this older article from 2000 is anything to go by, the clan/ethnic/land/politics issues in that area are very complicated and it’s easy for me to lob cheapshots]

A bit more digging plus stories from my local contacts and more complexities (and things that are worrying me) emerge.

First is the government’s reluctance to address insecurity issues in the area (a well-known refrain), and when the government does act, as the author points out the action is excessive, arbitrary, and without any follow-up of some sort.

Second, is the issue of government picking sides. It is now a well-known fact that the government has backed Kuti and his people (Borana) against the Samburu/Turkana, by arming the Borana. WTF? I’ll see it again WTF? Do we now have a government that is in the business of creating militias all over the country? In the post-2007 environment? These buffoons are so not very serious. From conversations I’ve been having with folks on the ground, the number of ethnic militias solidifying / growing throughout the country is very troublesome. Inspired by the “success” of Mungiki. See Baghdad Boys, who are slowly taking over Kisumu as a case in point; remnants of those armed in the Rift Valley who are “ready to emerge should Ruto be touched”; the Sabaot guys…the list is growing. Throw in the huge population of angry, unemployed young men all over the country (eh, hello rising crime) and you can see where this is going. And the government is arming folks in Isiolo?!

Third, more background reading I’ve done suggests that MPs in the area (on both sides) are playing a very significant role in fanning tensions and causing havoc. Again this leaves me wondering where we are headed as far as the next elections. 2007 is slowly becoming 2012 with no heads rolling whatsoever as far as politicians who orchestrated the chaos in 2007/2008. And yes, I unfortunately don’t think there is much hope as far as the Hague option (and can they just freaking open the damn envelope already).

Fourth, I’ve seen other reports of more complications being caused by Somalis from Somalia, both in terms of pouring in arms that are fueling the conflict and making the area a recruitment haven for themselves…young men being recruited from Isiolo to go and fight along with Somali insurgents in Somalia.

And amidst all this I’m wondering why I have not seen a decent story anywhere in the media stringing all these things together and raising awareness about it…if I’ve missed something, please send me a link and I’ll eat humble pie. Until then, honestly, the Kenyan media where the fricking hell are you? I’ve been able to cobble this post together from my bedroom in Johannesburg in a few hours. Did we learn nothing from 2007? Are we missing ticking time-bombs only to have editorials about “One Kenya” and “How did this Happen?”

As I write this more killings are happening on both sides…I really hope more media outlets will pick up the story and press those with the power to do something. I do know some local NGOs are working hard to resolve the conflict/address the issues but they need help in bringing attention to what’s going on.

4 comments to What the hell is going on in Isiolo/Samburu?

  • ke

    This is an interesting story.

  • This is grave serious. you read the local papers and you have the feeling that the only thing that matters is an envelop at the ICC.

  • zolah

    What’s your take on the ksh 33.4 million set aside for the PM’s residence? Worse still, on the defeaningly silent response from Wananchi?

    I’m not out for dignitary bashing (I’m all for respecting those in authority), I’m just wondering why it seems like everyone has quietly accepted this.

  • Rainin

    Part of the problem is that 90+% of Kenyans including leaders live in the 15% of the country that is relatively green
    and 10% live in the Pastoral Zone which is too dry for rain fed agriculture. So Semi-arid Kenya is like a very different place occupied by Nomads from Hell who only cause trouble – never numerous to matter in an election.

    Lets just remember that the main reason we have freedom in Kenya to worry and blog about is that Maa speakers occupying the Kenya Rift Valley Kept the Arab Slave Caravans out of what became Kenya and forced them North to Khartoum and South To Tabora and Zanzibar.

    When Samburu loses it cattle because of these GoK aided raids, Kenya will not be far from Losing what is left of its
    freedom. Our Blessings need the protection of our laws to have a hope of being continued. Ashe Oleng